Introduction
Western and Central Europe are experiencing one of the most intense heatwaves in recent years, with record temperatures being recorded in several countries. The UK and Switzerland were two of the most affected countries, with new temperature records for the month of June.
The Heatwave
The heatwave began on June 20 and has been causing hundreds of deaths, disrupting electricity supplies, canceling events, and leading to the closure of schools and tourist attractions. According to the Met Office, Switzerland recorded 38°C on the border with Germany and France on Thursday (25/6), while England recorded 36.7°C, the hottest day ever recorded in June in the UK.
Causes and Effects
The heatwave is being driven by the “Omega Block”, which raises temperatures by up to 18°C above normal. Throughout the week, red heat alerts were issued in several countries, including the Netherlands. The population is being advised to make every effort to adapt their routines to these levels of heat, which until now were extremely rare in the UK.
Consequences
Across the continent, tourist attractions were closed, including the LGBTQIAPN+ Pride Parade in Paris, which was postponed to September. In France, the total number of people who died from drowning rose to 55, and authorities fear that the number could increase further over the summer.
Social Impact
The heat melted the asphalt on roads in Germany and deformed train tracks in Sweden. In the UK, the high temperatures affected hospital equipment, such as MRI machines. Schools closed, vulnerable people died, economies suffered from the heat: this is how the climate crisis manifests itself in practice.
Conclusion
Air conditioning, which could provide some relief in closed environments, is still relatively rare in Europe. According to data from July 2025 from the International Energy Agency (IEA), only 20% of European households have air conditioning. Due to the current heatwave, Asian air conditioning manufacturers have reported a boom in sales in Europe.
Source / Reference
Source: ClimaInfo